Nurse Vincent M. Vacca, Jr. aptly described in this issue of the Nursing Journal the significance of early detection and health management of people who are or are maybe suffering from Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. He described PAH as a condition wherein a patient is having a mean pulmonary arterial (PA) pressure of greater than 25 mm HG with a pulmonary capillary or left atrial pressure less than 15 Hg; which is significantly higher than the normal range of between 12-16mm Hg in a healthy adult. 1 PAH, he said, is a condition, which is a result of the thickening of the pulmonary arterial wall causing a state of permanent vasoconstriction. In addition, the pulmonary vasculature that produces the body’s natural vasodilators becomes impaired therefore further contributing to pulmonary vascular remodeling, systemic hypoxia, and pulmonary thrombosis. All these, he said, could cause an elevated mean PA pressure and eventually a state of permanent pulmonary hypertension. PAH, according to nurse Vacca is prevalent amongst patients ages 30s or 40s and are more common in female rather than male patients. This condition is usually asymptomatic but some patients can exhibit exertional dyspnea caused by low cardiac output during the early stages of the condition. However, he said that a patient could also develop signs and symptoms of right-sided heart failure because the right ventricle could no longer overcome the high mean PA pressure. Some of the signs and symptoms he mentioned are ascites, congestive hepatomegaly, anasarca, and increased abdominal girth. Additionally, he said that PAH also predisposes the patient to pulmonary thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Nurse Vacca also described in the article the following four classes describing the severity of the condition as per the New York Heart Association: * Class I – no symptom – induced limits on physical activity * Class II – slight symptom – induced limits on physical activity * Class III – marked symptom - induced limits on physical activity * Class IV – right sided heart failure, with dyspnea and fatigue at rest, and an inability to perform any physical activity without symptoms.2 He then discussed several diagnostic testing that is currently being done to diagnose PAH, but reiterated the fact that it is typical for a patient with PAH to be diagnose 2 years after the symptom onset primarily because the symptoms that is being experience by patients with PAH such as dyspnea and fatigue are both nonspecific; therefore requiring doctors to rule out other conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, acute respiratory distress syndrome, cardiac disease, and liver disease. The diagnostic testing he mentioned are chest x-ray to show enlargement of the right ventricle, ECG to check for ventricular hypertrophy and right axis deviation, thyroid function test, cardiac biomarkers, CT scan, Doppler echocardiography, and right sided cardiac catheterization. All these test he said could be use to rule out other lung condition and diagnose PAH. The treatment plan for PAH is done following the administration of a vasodilator via an IV line to make certain that the patient is responding well with the vasodilator. The indication, he said, for a positive response is a “reduction of 10mm Hg or more in mean PA pressure, to a mean PA pressure of 40 mm Hg or less with no change or increase in CO”.3 The following treatment plans are then discussed as possible options that would be provided by a health care provider: * Calcium channel blockers

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PulmonaryArterialHypertension
HCS/245
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November 21, 2014
Jamikka Waremercer
The respiratory disease that I chose is PulmonaryArterialHypertension. This disease is very interesting to me because, I just had to research about it because my husband just had to go to the doctor because they think this is what he may have. I have learned a lot, Pulmonaryarterialhypertension of variable degree is commonly associated with adult congenital heart disease. Doctors say that you have to pay attention to the size and location of the underlying cardiac defect as well as on repair status, pulmonaryarterialhypertensionarterial. Pulmonary arteries are thought to be not so normal if they can’t carry blood from your heart to the lungs, where it picks up oxygen to be delivered throughout your body. PAH also can be the result of taking certain medicines this is why this disease is considered to be tertiary this is the type of medical care that is needed. This disease can be life threating and it actually give a physician’s patients because they have to monitor this disease because there is not cure this disease is just able to be monitored. Being that this disease has to be watched so closely all type of resources have to be used. There are all types...

...Hypertension, also referred to as high blood pressure, is a condition in which the arteries have persistently elevated blood pressure. Every time the human heart beats, it pumps blood to the whole body through the arteries.
Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing up against the blood vessel walls. The higher the pressure the harder the heart has to pump.
Hypertension can lead to damaged organs, as well as several illnesses, such as renal failure (kidney failure), aneurysm, heart failure, stroke, or heart attack. Researchers from UC Davis reported in the Journal of the American Academy of Neurology that high blood pressure during middle age may raise the risk of cognitive decline later in life.
According to Medilexicon's medical dictionary, hypertension means "High blood pressure; transitory or sustained elevation of systemic arterial blood pressure to a level likely to induce cardiovascular damage or other adverse consequences."
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Primary hypertension cause is unknown; it tends to develop gradually over the years. Secondary hypertension can be cause for various conditions. Kidney problems, medications like control pills, illegal drugs can be a cause for secondary hypertension.
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Last reviewed: June 10, 2011.
Hypertension is the term used to describe high blood pressure.
Blood pressure is a measurement of the force against the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps blood through your body.
Blood pressure readings are usually given as two numbers -- for example, 120 over 80 (written as 120/80 mmHg). One or both of these numbers can be too high.
The top number is called the systolic blood pressure, and the bottom number is called the diastolic blood pressure.
* Normal blood pressure is when your blood pressure is lower than 120/80 mmHg most of the time.
* High blood pressure (hypertension) is when your blood pressure is 140/90 mmHg or above most of the time.
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If you have pre-hypertension, you are more likely to develop high blood pressure.
If you have heart or kidney problems, or if you had a stroke, your doctor may want your blood pressure to be even lower than that of people who do not have these conditions.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
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...HYPERTENSION
What is hypertension? Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a common condition that occurs when the pressure of the blood in your artery walls is so high; it starts to complicate your health. Your blood pressure is based on how much the heart pumps and the amount of resistance to the blood flowing in the arteries. The harder it pumps, the more constricted the arteries are, the higher the blood pressure reads. High blood pressure can be in a person for years and go unnoticed; however, once diagnosed, it can be treated.
What are the causes of hypertension? There are two types of hypertension:
1. Essential (primary) hypertension – gradually develops over the years in adults. Some causes are:
* Smoking
* Stress
* Inactive lifestyles
* Obesity
* Heavy salt intake
* Alcohol abuse
* Aging
* Insulin resistance
* Hereditary
2. Secondary hypertension – caused by a pre-existing condition. It’s acute and can read higher than in primary hypertension. Some of the pre-existing conditions may include:
* Kidney issues
* Tumors in the adrenal glands
* Congenital defects in blood vessels
* Medications (birth control pills, cold remedies, pain relievers and some prescribed medications)
* Cocaine and amphetamines
What is the mechanism of hypertension? Although it...